EXPERIENCED PERSONAL INJURY LAWYERS

Category: Boat Accidents

Summer is winding down, which means you might have to put away a few of your favorite things: your grill, your outdoor hammock, and – of course – your boat.

Whether you’re leaving your vacation home or have felt the first signs of fall, it’s a good time to consider beginning the winterization process. Even in Florida, winterization is very important. As your boat sits and isn’t looked after for the next few months, it could be subject to damage that will affect boating safety when you pull it out next summer.…

If you have a boat or vessel in the state of Florida, you’d better make sure it’s still in pretty good condition. A new law signed earlier this summer allows law enforcement officials to fine you for having a boat deemed to be “at-risk.”

But what exactly does that mean?

Understanding the Definition of an “At-Risk” Boat in Florida

Previously, law enforcement could only take action against a boat’s owner for having a boat deemed to be “derelict.”

This meant that the boat had probably been neglected or abandoned and was in a concerning state of disrepair or sinking to the bottom of the water.…

Now that Hurricane Irma has passed over Florida, residents are left with picking up the piece and getting to the hard task of recovery. For some, that may be limited to surviving until the power returns. For others, it could involve trying to fix or replace things that were lost or harmed in the storm.

Which begs the question: what kind of property damage have you sustained? What are the most common types of damage that you should watch out for?…

Holiday weekends are great. Having that extra day off from work and school means you can plan a last-minute vacation or road trip. Labor Day is an especially good time to get away, too, because the weather is usually perfect as summer comes to an end.

The problem with three-day weekends, however, is that everyone seems to want to take advantage of them, which means that more people are going to be on Florida roads trying to get to and from their destinations.…

Bars and advertisements for alcoholic products often encourage people to “drink responsibly,” but in some cases, the establishments or bartenders serving these drinks may be at least partially liable for a patron’s alcohol-related injury or death. Under certain circumstances, bars can—and should—be held responsible for over-serving patrons.

Many states have “dram shop” laws (named after an 18th century term for pubs or taverns), and Florida is no exception. Under Florida’s dram shop statute, anyone who knowingly sells or furnishes alcoholic beverages may be liable for the injury or damage caused by or affecting a patron who is: a.) under the age of 21, or b.) “habitually addicted to the use of any or all alcohol beverages.”

While it’s relatively easy to determine if someone is under the age of 21, “habitually addicted” to alcohol is more subjective.…

Most people like dogs. How can you resist those adoring eyes, the wagging tail, and the warm, fuzzy head that seems to appear in your lap just when you’re feeling your lowest? So many Americans like dogs, in fact, that the Humane Society estimates that 46% of US households own dogs. But not all dogs exude the same warm friendliness that your family’s Golden Retriever displays.…